Blank gauge for shearing machines



May 9, 1950 R. A. MGLAUGHLIN BLANK GAUGE FOR SHEARING MACHINES 2shee'tslsneet 1 Filed June 7, 1948 .tra

mwN

, JNyEJvR.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 R. A. MGLAUGHLIN BLANK GAUGE FOR SHEARING-MAQHINES May9, 1950 Filed June 7, 194s la@ Ric/mz .Amd/mld Patented May 9, 1950'oF-.Flee- Y lkfascia-1s BLANKGAUGEFGR SHEARINGMACHINES :RichardLaughlin,

canton, ouin, assigner &= Company-Chicago, I'll.-, fa 'corporation Thisinvention relates to shearing inachines of 'the type for cuttingv 4bar-stock into 'blanks-,and `more particularly to a novel gauge assemblyforinsuring cutting the Ablanks into Y'sections Vofi-preselected, uniformlength. y

A general object V'of the invention is :to provide a blank length gaugelassembly' which `permits the workman feeding the bar stockt'o pushthesame between theshear blades until the 'leading end strikes a yieldable`gauge element, and then,

before the shear blades 4effect cuttin'gfautoniatically push the Vbarstock back so that the 'distance between the leading pendici the barLstb'ck and vthe point of shear will always be uniform; thus .sb-

stantially eliminating the cutting cfbvrsized blanks. Therefore, in itsprimary aspect, "the present invention represents a carrying forward ofthe invention shown 'and described in theapplication of Philipl\`/Ioore,'Jr.;"Se"ia1"No: 699;- 326, led September 25, 1946. v

More specifically', the'present inye'ntion has fr its object a blank`gauge assembly including 5a gauge element or block :which 'yields'underfirpact when struck'or yenga-'ged by theleadin'g end of the barstock being *fed in by the4tiper'ati;arid--I ment and said abutment barto 'permit the gauge block to yield when struck by the lelad'in'g end ofthe bar stock while the shear bla'd'e'sjaie A"'dltiei.

In that connection, it wiu'fbe andersrum-therme* fluid operated. meansTf'o'r'pushing the gauge `block.

toward the shear blades is automatically synchronized with-the movementof {theranairyling the movableshear blades.

A further `object' of the 'finverun este previde- Va gauge assemblyincludin'ga frainercfnwhichthe gauge block. and the 'abutment bar"aforesa'idfai'fe" mounted, the said frame valso being-intended't'oaccommodate a removableand replace'fablega'g'e unit of vpredetr-irininedlength fo'rthe 'pi'i'rfdse Vreadily adapting vthe gaugeias'se'ibly tojbe'useful in cutting 'blanks lofgreater'or'lstverall llergth v"whichivillmore readily appear as the nature `o`f the invention is betterunderstood, the vsame consists in the novel construction,combination/and arrangementof parts, hereinafter morefully de-Iscribed.illustrated and claimed.

A 'preferred and practical `emb'oxiiinent ofthe invention is illustratedin the accompanying drawings in which:

lFigure y1 is "a Yvertical cross sectional View of a 'ra'm type shear,'partly in section, and showing r"the present improvements in verticalsection, the -rai'nbeing at the upper end of its stroke.

Figure 2 a View similar to Figure 1 showing v'the' relative'pcsition 'ofparts when `the ram -4is 'at `the endof its shearing stroke.

'Figure 3 is an enlarged detail top plan View of the gauge assembly.

Figure 4 isa vertical 'cross sectional View taken yionfthe line 4;!- ofFigure 3.

Figure 5 is a 'vertical cross sectional view taken 'on the linda-5 vofFigure 3.

Figure 6 is detail longitudinal sectional View of the gauge block andits carrier, together with theassociated"cushion, spring anduid'cylinder.

Similar. references designate corresponding "p'art'sAl'flfi'rou'ghoutthe several gures ofthe drawings.

ARefr'rin'g to Figures 1 and 2, it will be seen that a conventional typeof reciprocating shear l'i'sf'illustrated, vthe same including thebed'or base having ajxed blade 'B and'amovable blade Cfcaiirie'dibythe'reciprocating ram designated gene'ra'lly as 13; The-barstock Eto becutjis manual- -lyfadvancedfwhen the ram is elevated,between the shear vblades v-B y.and 'C toward the present fgaugeassembly designated generally as F.

'I'hegauge assembly F lis mounted =atthe rear ofithef-bas'e of theshearing kmachine Withthe stock abutting element 'or gauge lblock 'ldisposed substantially in fthe line or plane of horizontalfeedofthestockli; The gauge block l is 'arranged `to have its lface 'Eengaged by the vleading Vend of the bar stock as the workman `feeds .thershear. This blcckisV mounted on va icross head -3 or Yany appropriateferm, but, .preferably as illustrated, ther said cross yhead is providedwith downturned wall It. As will be observed from "thedraitings,thegauge block I is held to the iiriderside' f, the cross head bybo'lts5 adjustable in the `v.shits '6. fThefw'all l! is vprovided with""tlreadd adjustment b'olt's 'l Whose 'inner ends abutment bar areformed with collars for insertion in a keyway at the side of the blockopposite the face 2. Thus, by loosening the bolts and turning the bolts1, the gauge block I may be adjusted transversely of the cross headwithin relatively small limits, for example, an inch or fractions of aninch. In other words, the face 2 of the gauge block I may be movedcloser or farther from the line of shear by proper adjustment of thebolts 'I', and thereafter the bolts 5 may be tightened to lock the blockrigidly in set position.

In the example shown, the cross head 3 is provided at opposite endsthereof with the bushings 8 or their equivalent which slide on thespaced rods 9 which, in eiect, provide a sup-` porting frame projectingrearwardly from the bed of the machine substantially at the level ofstock feed. Moreover, the cross head 3 is connected to an abutment barI0 by tension springs II whose opposite ends are connected respectivelyto the bushings 8 and the ends of the bar I3. This bar is also mountedon the rods 9 and may be moved thereon, but normally the said baroccupies a relatively xed position on the rods 9 since it is backed upby the front ends of the yoke portions I2 of a removable and replaceableinterchangeable length master gauge unit H. That is to say, the invertedU-shaped yoke portions I2 are connected by a strip or strap I3 so thatthey may be moved as a unit radially to straddle or embrace the outerend portions of the rods 9. As Will be seen from Figure 3, the yokeportions I2 are disposed between the rear face of the abutment bar IQand nuts I4 secured on the threaded ends of the rods 9. By using alength gauge H having longer or shorter yoke portions I2, it will beseen that the spring connected cross head 3 and abutment bar I0 may bebodily moved a greater Aor less distance from the line of shear therebyto make blanks 0f dierent length.

The use of the master gauge unit l-l permits `of making majoradjustments for gross blank length while the bolts 'I which adjust thegauge block I take care of minor or fractional adjustments necessary tosecure exact or net blank length.

Referring further to the cross head 3 and the I0 connected by thetension springs I l, it will be understood that the purpose of saidsprings II is to draw the cross head and .bar toward each other, or toput it another way, .retract the block i toward the bar I0.

head and the related face of the head of the cylinder I5. The spring I8is preferably stronger than the combined effect of the springs II so asto normally tend to push the cross head 3 and when the piston I6 is notsubjected to pressure and to be ready to be compressed. Thus, when vtheshear blades are open and the workman feeds the bar stock into themachine, the leading end of the bar stock strikes the face 2 of thegauge block I and pushes the block and its cross head A rearwardlyagainst the cushioning force of the spring I8. By this arrangement, theworkman feeding the bar stock has the sensation of the y gauge block Iaway from the abutment bar II) within the cylinder I5, thereby to enablethe 'convolutions of the spring I8 to be spread apart 'lthe frarnaone of.saidrnembers carrying a bar shown in Figure 2, a cam I9 on the ramactuates the handle or operator 20 of a two-Way valve 22 supported at aconvenient location adjacent the rain. When the ram descends to move theblades B and C' into cutting position, as shown in Figure 2, at anappropriate point in its. stroke, compressed air is supplied through theconduit 23-24 to the cylinder I5 behind the piston l5 which advances thecross head 3 and gauge block I toward the line of shear, for example,approximately one-half inch, thereby pushing the bar stock toward theshear blades to obtain the predetermined blank length.

As the ram descends back to the position shown in Figure l, the cam I9actuates the operator 2!! so as to close the compressed air line 2Q andopen the line 23 to the atmosphere, thereby permitting springs I I toretract the cross .head 3 back to normal position and cause the `gaugeblock I to retreat from the line of shear.

'having fixed and movable shear blades, a ram for the movable blade, ablank gauge assembly at the side of the blades opposite to that wherethe ,stock is fed in, comprising, a pair of springtensioned members, oneof which carries a stock engaging gauge-element and is slidable relativeto the other which remains stationary, a cushioning spring between saidmembers to absorb ,the impact of the bar stock engaging the gaugeelement when the stock is manually fed thereagainst, and meanscontrolled by the descent of the ram for moving the member carrying thegauge-element toward the said blades prior to cutting to provide a blankor" predetermined length.

2. A blank length gauge for shearing machines having xed and movableshear blades, a ram for the movable blade, a blank gauge assembly at.the side of the blades opposite to that where the 4'stock is fed in,comprising, a pair of spring tensioned members one of which carries abar stock engaging gauge-element and is slidable relative to the otherwhich is stationary, a spring between said members to absorb impact onthe gauge-element when the stock is manually fed ,thereagainst huidpressure means including a piston and cylinder between said members, andvalve means controlled by the ram to supply huid v.pressure to saidcylinder to move the slidable member toward the cutting blades and toexhaust said cylinder to the atmosphere. j. 3. A blank length gauge forshearing machines having xed and movable shear blades, a ram ,for themovable blade, a blank gauge assemblyat the side of the blades oppositeto that where the stock is fed in, comprising, a frame, a pair ofspring-tensioned members mounted on stock engaging gauge-element andslidable relative to the other member which is relatively stationary onthe frame, a spring between said members to cushion impact on the stockengaging gauge-element when the stock is manually fed thereagainst,means synchronized with the movement of the ram to cause the gaugeelement to advance and retreat relative to the line of shear, and agauge unit of iixed length adapted to be applied to the frame to back upsaid stationary member.

4. In a blank shearing machine, the combination with shear blades, of aframe carried by the machine at the side opposite to that where thestock is fed in, yieldable gauge-element means on the frame, meanssynchronized with the shear blades and interconnected with saidgauge-element means to cause the same to advance and retreat relative tosaid blades, and a master .blank length gauge unit of xed length on saidframe for cooperation with said gaugeelement means to determine thegross length.

5. In a blank shearing machine, the combination with shear blades, of a`frame carried by the machine at the side opposite to that where thestock is fed in, yieldable gauge-element means on the frame, fluidoperated piston and cylinder means for causing said gauge-element toadvance and retreat relative to the line of shear, and a master blanklength gauge unit on said frame for cooperation with gauge-element meansto determine the gross length.

6. In a shearing machine having a iixed blade and a movable blade, a ramcarrying the movable blade, a frame at the side of the machine oppositeto that where the stock is Ifed in, a stock blank gauge assembly mountedon the frame and comprising, a cross head slidably mounted the frame, agauge block carried by the cross head, an abutment bar mounted on theframe, tension springs connecting the cross head and abutment bar, afluid cylinder mounted on the bar, a piston in the cylinder and having astem connected to the cross head, a spring surrounding the stem of thepiston and conned between the cross head and the head of the cylinderwhereby when the leading end of the bar stock strikes the gauge block,said spring will yield, means on the frame for backing up the abutmentbar, a uid conduit communicating with a source of fluid under pressureand also commnuicating with the cylinder at one sidey of the face of thepiston, a two-way valve in said conduit, an operator for said valve, andmeans on the ram adapted to engage said operator when the ram iselevated to turn the valve to cut 01T the fluid pressure supplied to thecylinder and open the same to the atmosphere, and, when the ram descendsto move the operator to supply iluid pressure to the cylinder to actuatethe piston against said tension springs and move the cross head andgauge block in a direction to push the bar stock back to predeterminedblank length determined by the distance between the stock engaging faceof the gauge block and the line of shear.

7. In a shearing machine including fixed and movable lblades and a ramfor actuating the movable blade, a gauge to determine the length of thestock cut, means operable in response to retraction of said ram and themovable blade to move said gauge in the direction of stock feed topermit overfeeding of the stock, and a fluid-operable power unitoperable in response to projection of said ram to move said gauge in adirection counter to the direction of stock feed to predetermine thelength of the stock cut.

8. In a shearing machine including xed and movable blades and a ram foractuating the movable blade, a gauge to determine the length of thestock cut, means operable in response to retraction of said ram and themovable blade to move said gauge in the direction of stock feed topermit overfeeding of the stock, a iluid-operable power unit to movesaid gauge and the stock in a direction counter` to the direction ofstock feed to predetermine the length of the stock cut, and valve meansoperable by projection of said ram to admit fluid to said power unit.

RICHARD A. MCLAUGHLIN.

REFERENCE S CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date McDonald June 1, 1915Number

